Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Baltimore leads 15 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $376k less ($202,900 vs $578,900)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.9%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Rent averages $165/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,400)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails South Gate by $8,839/yr
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
South Gate, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $8,839 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 44°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Baltimore
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$376k less
$202,900 vs $578,900
Baltimore
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Baltimore
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Median Income
$8,839
$67,188 vs $58,349/yr
South Gate
Violent Crime
67% lower
525.6 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $67,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Baltimore is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baltimore leads 15 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 15 and South Gate wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Baltimore to South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $578,900 median home), income ($58,349 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and South Gate, CA are about 2,315 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.